Microbial reference materials (RMs) in dairy products are important tool for developing microbiological measurement techniques, establishing microbial detection standards, and improving the quality supervision system of milk and dairy products, which have broad application prospects. The main characteristics of the microbial RMs, and the main preparation technology that could help with the microbial activity, as well as the measurement techniques of the quantity value and nominal property are introduced. Furthermore, an overview on the developm...